House of Cards - Episode Guide

When charming Chief Whip Francis Urquhart is passed over for promotion by a new party leader, he hatches a dastardly plot to wreak revenge on each and every one of his colleagues.

Urquhart forges ahead with his plan to bring down the new PM. Meanwhile, the party faithful congregate at the Tory conference in Brighton. 

Collingridge is in deep political trouble and he has no alternative but to step down as Prime Minister. Ironically, he still has great faith in Urquhart, whom he feels is the only man he can trust. However, as the scandals and leaked stories have gained momentum, political journalist Mattie Storin begins to suspect that Collingridge has been framed. But who is the culprit? By now, she is too emotionally involved with Urquhart (her loving "Daddy") to realize how she has been used.

Urquhart's ruthless scheming has worked. As the leadership election looms, all his leading rivals have been discredited. But even though the obstacles in his way have been erased, there is still no guarantee of his winning. Meanwhile, by the process of reason and elimination, the truth is beginning to dawn on Mattie, though she can hardly bring herself to believe that "Daddy" is not what he seems. As for Urquhart, he has too much to lose now to let sentiment stand in his way. He will go to any lengths to prevent her, or anyone else, from finding out just what he has done to gain power.

Francis Urquhart is now triumphantly installed in No. 10 as Prime Minister, but uneasy at the memory of Mattie Storin, the young journalist he murdered on his way to the top. He is also facing criticism from an unexpected source. The newly crowned King is appalled by his unfeeling, materialistic policies. However, Urquhart has lost none of his relish for the fight.

The King is insisting that politicians should have the interests of the populace more at heart. For appearances sake, Urquhart pretends to take a more temperate stance towards the King's attack on his policies.

"I am, in fact, extremely angry with His Majesty, and I intend to do him harm." The antagonism between the King and Prime Minister develops into full confrontation as Urquhart accuses the King of trying to organize a bloodless coup against the Government.

Urquhart gives the King an ultimatum which could change the history of the British Monarchy.

Urquhart is determined to leave his mark on the world before retiring. He is in the middle of brokering an historic peace settlement between Greek and Turkish Cyprus when a Turkish businessman makes him an attractive offer.

Urquhart promises to help a young Greek Cypriot girl locate the war graves of her murdered uncles. After announcing her affair with Tom, Claire becomes Urquhart's Parliamentary Private Secretary. The arbitration judge makes a decision.

Ditched by Makepeace, Claire tells Maria that Urquhart cannot help her trace her uncles' graves and suggests that she go to Makepeace for help. Meanwhile, Makepeace attacks Urquhart in the House about the cover-up on the Cyprus war graves. 

The Cyprus oil find causes civil unrest in Greek Cyprus, leading to the capture of the High Commissioner and the Greek Cypriot President. The strong-arm tactics Urquhart orders during the rescue result in the loss of innocent lives and his career.

Author, politician and member of the House of Lords Michael Dobbs looks back on the TV drama that had 90s Britain hooked on political intrigue and infighting. Based on his best-selling novel, the BBC adaptation of House of Cards introduced television viewers to Francis Urquhart, the chief whip pulling the strings as a Conservative government experiences a leadership crisis that sees reputations and lives destroyed.

Lord Dobbs considers the seductive appeal of Urquhart and how Ian Richardson's portrayal of the character helped him instantly become one of the great TV villains. He also recalls how the very week that the BBC first broadcast House of Cards coincided with a real-life political meltdown as Margaret Thatcher was forced from office, and the fact that the latest screening comes after some of the biggest political upsets for decades. Coincidence? To quote Urquhart himself: ‘You might think that... I couldn't possibly comment.'